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GCSE English justice must prevail

The integrity of the examination system must be restored by this week’s legal challenge in the Royal Courts of Justice, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has said.

The NAHT is part of a broad alliance of pupils, schools, councils and professional associations taking action against Ofqual, AQA and Edexcel after GCSE English grade boundaries were changed between January and June, resulting in thousands of young people missing out on key results. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) are also among the professional associations involved.

Russell Hobby, the general secretary of the NAHT, said: “The NAHT is proud to be part of the alliance taking action over the unfairness surrounding this year’s GCSE English exams. The coming together of such a wide group of organisations and individuals is evidence of the depth of feeling and we are pleased to be able to take our case to the courts.

“The GCSE English debacle has affected the lives of thousands of young people whose futures have been altered by a statistical aberration. We hope the courts will see sense and order a regrade, thus giving those who sat the exam the result they deserve.

“Moreover, we would like the court action to send a clear message to Ofqual that changing the grade boundaries mid-year was unfair and those who have the best interests of children at heart will do whatever it takes to restore justice.”